Prepayment meter for electricity, gas, and like commodities



Jan. 25, 1938. Y WALL E 2,106,582

PREPAYMENT METER FOR ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND LIKE COMMODITIES Filed March12, I936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor.-

$8111.25, 1938. G. WALL 2,106,582

PREPAYMENT METER FOR ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND LIKE COMMODITIES Filed March12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: 680T 6 Wall,

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Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PREPAYMENT METER FOR ELECTRICITY,GAS, AND LIKE COllflVIODITIE-S George Wall, Manchester, England,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication March 12, 1936, Serial No. 68,544 In Great Britain March26-, 1935 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to prepayment meters for electricity, gas,and like commodities.

In prepayment meters of the kind referred to,

a device hereinafter called the prepayment mechanism comprises twooperable members, one of which, herein referred to as the coin side, isoperated by the coin mechanism on the insertion of a coin thereinto andthe rotation thereof to discharge the coin therefrom. The coin side ofthe prepayment mechanism is moved by an amount proportional to the valueof the coin inserted into the coin box. The other operable member of theprepayment mechanism, herein referred to as the commodity side, is movedin the off direction by or under the control of the meter rotor. The twooperable members control a third member, such as tap or switch whichcontrols the supply of the commodity. The prepayment mechanism may be ofthe epicyclic diiferential type or the well known catch up mechanismtype, or of any other suitable form.

Hitherto, it has been proposed, in order to change the scale of paymentfor the commodity consumed, to change the amount by which the coin sideof the prepayment mechanism is advanced by the operations incidental topassing one coin into the coin collecting box or drawer, so thatsuccessive equal changes of the amount of this movement result in equalchanges of the amount of commodity allowed per coin, and.

when it is desired to express the tariif in terms of commodity per unitof money, this system 0 results in a convenient indexing of the pricechange adjustment. It has also been proposed to include between themeter rotor and the commodity side of the prepayment mechanism avariable gear device whereby a progressive change of gear ratio betweenthe meter rotor, 01' the equivalent, and herein referred to solely asthe meter rotor, and the commodity side of the prepayment mechanism maybe readily obtained. This latter arrangement lends itself convenientlyto expressing the tariff in terms of the number of coins of a givendenomination per unit of commodity.

The present invention more specifically relates to prepayment meters ofthe kind referred to which have a variable device as last hereinbeforedescribed, and has for its object novel mechanism whereby theprogressive change of gear ratio aforementioned may be obtained.

According to the present invention in its preferred form, a pawl andratchet mechanism is included in a train of gears connected to thecommodity side of the prepayment mechanism and is adapted to be madeoperative through an adjustable part of the rotary path of a memberrotated by or under the control of the meter rotor, so as to renderoperative through that said adjustable part of the rotary path of thesaid member the said train of gears connected to the commodity side ofthe prepayment mechanism.

In a preferred method of carrying out theinvention the pawl and ratchetmechanism is made operative always at the same fixed point in the rotarypath of a member rotated by or under the control of the meter rotor anda device, whose angular position with respect to the said same fixedpoint is adjustable, is furthermore provided and adapted to cause thesaid pawl and ratchet mechanism to become inoperative thereby to renderthe said train of gears inoperative after a predetermined adjustablefraction of the angular movement of the rotor or member controlledthereby. Conveniently, the pawl may be the member rotated by the meterrotor, and fixed and relatively adjustable stops are provided to rockthe pawl into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Such gear mechanism rendered operative by the pawl and ratchet mechanismmay be the only gear mechanism between the meter rotor and theprepayment mechanism, or it may be additional to a continuouslyoperative gear mechanism between the meter rotor and the prepaymentmechanism, in which case the resultant of the two movements of the twogear mechanisms is obtained by a differential mechanism and transmittedto the commodity side of the prepayment mechanism. The continuouslyoperative gear mechanism may be for the normal price per unit of thecommodity and the effect of the additional. gear may be added orsubtracted from the effect of the continuously operative gear as theprice of the commodity varies above or below the normal price.

The accompanying drawings taken in conjunction with the followingdescription give by way of example two embodiments of the invention. Thefeatures of the invention which are believed to be novel and patentableare pointed out in the claims appended hereto. In the drawings, Figure 1shows diagrammatically a prepayment electricity meter in which thevariable gear mechanism is inserted between the meter rotor and thecommodity side of the prepayment mechanism and is driven directly by themeter rotor, whilst Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the said mechanismrotated by an auxiliary motor under the control of the meter rotor.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, an arm I is secured to ashaft 2 which is geared through gears 3, 4, 5 to one of the shafts 6 ofthe meter register which is driven in the usual manner by the meterrotor 6, and the arm I is provided at its free end with a pawl I whichis pivotally attached to the arm by a pivot pin 8 and is spring pressedagainst the arm so that said pawl will be held by friction in whateverposition it is placed. The pawl I is provided at-one end with aprojecting pin 9 which, as the arm rotates, is adapted to come intocontact with a fixed stop in the form of an adjustable screw I0 screwedthrough a suitable stationary member of the meter frame, and the pawl Iis thereby depressed and caused to engage with the teeth of a ratchetwheel II integral with a sleeve I2 and gear wheel I3 loosely mounted onthe shaft 2. The pawl I is furthermore provided with a tail piece I4suitably shaped and adapted to come into contact at an adjustablepredetermined point in its rotary path due to the rotating arm I, withan adjustable stop I5 so that the pawl I is rocked about its pivot anddisengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel I I. It will be observedthat the end of the screw I0 is at a greater radial distance from the 7axis of rotation of the shaft 2 than the pivot pin 8, and the stop I5 isat a lesser radial distance than the pivot pin 8. In other words, thestops II! and I5 are on either side of the pivot pin 8 and theprojections 9 and I4 are correspondingly positioned so that theprojecting pin 9 is at a greater radial distance than the pivot pin 8when the pawl I is disengaged and the tail piece I4 is at a lesserradial distance when the pawl 'I is engaged. When the projection 9strikes the stop II), the projecting pin 9 is driven inward to causeengagement of the pawl with the ratchet I I and, when the tail piece I4strikes the stop I5, the tail piece I4 is driven inward to causedisengagement of the pawl I from the ratchet I I.

The adjustable stop I5 takes the form of a. pin and is carried on acircular plate I6, herein referred to as the locating disk, providedwith a knob II by which it can be rotated about an axis coaxial with theaxis of the shaft 2 and is so located that .the projecting pin I5 liesin the circular path of the tail piece I4 of the pawl I. It will beobserved that the position of the adjustable stop I5 will determine theangle through which the arm I rotates whilst the pawl I is in engagementwith the ratchet wheel II and this angle may therefore be varied byturning the locating disk I6 to various positions. The locating disk I6may be provided with a series of cirournferential notches I8, thedistance between two successive notches representing a suitablevariation of price per unit of the. commodity, as for instance onefarthing per unit of the commodity. A pawl I9 fixed to a stationary partof the meter may be arranged to engage with the notches in the locatingdisk I6 so that the said disk remains in the position set. V

The gear wheel I3 integral with the sleeve I2 and the ratchet wheel I Iis geared through wheels 20, H, 22, 23 to the commodity side 24 of theprepayment mechanism P, represented in the drawings as an epicyclicdifferential mechanism. The wheel 23'is integral with a sleeve 25 andsun wheel 24 of the prepayment mechanism. The coin side of theprepayment mechanism is the slim wheel 26 which is integral with asleeve 21 and wheel 28.

This latter wheel gears in well known manner through a suitable geartrain represented by wheels 29 and 30 with the coin mechanismrepresented at 3|. The two sun wheels 24 and 26 are mounted loosely onthe shaft 32 to which the planetary cage 33 of the prepaymentdifferential is secured and the shaft 32 is provided in the usual waywith a coins unused pointer 34 and a switch tripping cam (not shown).

In operation the gears between the meter rotor and the shaft 6 arechosen so that the shaft 6 of the meter register makes 10 revolutionsfor each unit of electricity consumed. The movement of shaft 6 isimparted to shaft 2 and hence pawl I is rotated (in a clockwisedirection viewed from the left of Fig. 1). As the pin 9 of the pawlpasses under the pin or screw II! the pawl is rocked into engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet wheel I I which is rotated along with thepawl. When the tail I4 of the pawl I engages with the adjustable pin I5the pawl is rocked out ofengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheelI I, the movement of which now ceases until the pawl is again rockedinto engagement therewith on passing the fixed stop screw I8. The amountof rotation of the wheel I I for each revolution of the shaft 2 or thepawl I can be adjusted by means of the adjustable stop I5 ashereinbefore described. The movement of the wheel I I is transmittedthrough the wheels I3, 28, 2|, 22, and 23 to the commodity side of theprepayment differential P. The movement of the planetary cage 33 dependsupon the movement of the wheel I I and consequently may be made toreturn a greater or smaller distance per each unit of electricityconsumed by adjustment of the stop I5, with a consequent greater orsmaller charge respectively fora unit of electrical energy.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, this figure illustrates amodification of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, in which the rotatingmember is not rotated directly from the meter rotor, but under thecontrol of the meter rotor, in order to relieve the meter rotor of thework of rotating the mechanism described with reference to Figure 1.

In the following description the designations given to parts in Figure 1will be given to the corresponding parts in Figure 2.

The shaft 2, is driven now by an auxiliary motor shown as a spring andescapement mechanism but it will be understood that any suitable form ofauxiliary motor may be used, as for instance a synchronous motor with aslipping device or preferably a shaded pole motor.

The wheel 3 of Figure 1 is dispensed with and one member, the escapingmember, 35 of the escapement mechanism is secured to the shaft 2. Theescapement mechanism may be of any suitable form, and is shown in Figure2 only diagrammatically. The other member of the escapement mechanism,the controlling member, 36 is shown as a notched disk secured to theshaft 31 which is geared to the shaft 6 of the meter register throughthe gear train 5. A helical spring 38 is provided on the shaft 2, oneend of the spring being attached to a disk member 39 secured to the saidshaft and the other end of the spring being attached to a gear wheel 49which is geared through suitable gearing 4 I, 42 to the coin receivermechanism 3|, which, in addition is geared to the sun wheel 26 asdescribed in reference to Figure 1. By rotating the coin receivermechanism after the insertion of a coin the spring 38 is wound up. Aslipping clutch may be inserted at any position between the. coinreceiver mechanism and 2,106,158??? the spring 38 to prevent the springfrom being overwound. The escaping member 35- ofthe escapement mechanismis provided with a projecting pin 43 which is adapted to engage with thenotches 44 in the circumference of the notched disk 36 secured to theshaft 31 rotated by the meter rotor as hereinbefore described. I

The driving power of the rotating pawl l is thus obtained from theWound-up spring 38 which is I released step by step by the notched disk36 which is rotated during consumption of the commodity.

As shown in Figure 2, the meter rotor may also be geared from the shaft6 of the meter register to one sun wheel 45 of an auxiliary differentialmechanism A, the other sun wheel 46 of which is geared to the gear wheell3 which is integral with the sleeve l2 and ratchet wheel ll through thegear comprising wheels 20, 2!, 22. The sun wheel 45 is integral with asleeve 50 and wheel 5|, loosely mounted on a shaft 48, and the sun wheel46 is integral with a sleeve 52 and wheel the auxiliary differential A,and on the other hand through the intermittently operated pawl andratchet mechanism 1, H, is obtained by the planetary cage of thedifferential A and transmitted to the commodity side of the prepaymentmechanism. This resultant movement may be, as already explained, the sumor the difference of the movements imparted to the sun wheels 45 and 46.

In order further to relieve the meter rotor of the work of driving themechanism, a helical spring 54 may be arranged on the shaft 32 to whichthe planetary cage 33 of the prepayment mechanism is secured and thespring is adapted on rotation of the coin receiver after the insertionof a coin thereinto, to be wound up, so that it tends to return theplanetary wheel 33 to its normal or switch tripping position, therebyaiding the meter rotor during the consumption of the commodity.

In operation assuming a coin has been inserted into the coin receiver,the handle 3! is rotated to discharge the coin therefrom in the wellknown manner, and during such rotation the springs 38 and 54 are woundup. The meter rotor on rotation in accordance with consumption of thecommodity rotates the sun wheel 45 of the auxiliary differential A. Atthe same time the meter rotor rotates shaft 31 and notched wheel 44,which, as it rotates, releases the pin '43 secured to the disk 35 which,together with the shaft 2 is constrained to rotate by the spring 38, anddoes so rotate quickly when the pin 43 is released through practically acomplete revolution until the pin 43 again engages with the next notchof disk 44, after which the movement of the shaft is the same as that ofthe wheel 36, until the pin is again released. For each release of thepin, it will be observed, the shaft 2 makes one complete revolution. Ifmore than one pin such as 43 be provided, the angle through which theshaft 2 rotates as each pin is released from a notch will depend uponthe number of pins. A fractional part of themovement of the shaft 2 ashereinbefore explained with reference to Fig. 1, is transmitted tothe'sun wheel 46 of the auxiliary differential A; This fractional partof the movement of shaft 2' which is transmitted may be varied byadjustment of the adjustable pin or stop l5, and may be added to orsubtracted from the movement of the sun wheel 45 as hereinbeforeexplained to vary the price of the commodity above or below a normalprice represented by the movement of the sun wheel 45. Instead ofproviding for the winding of the spring 38 from the coin knob 3i via thebevel wheels 40, 4|, 42, the spring tension may be sustained by a smallshaded pole motor which is connected across the circuit and whichis'allowed to stall when. winding is not needed, or a selfstartingmotor, for instance of the shaded pole type, may be caused to functionin place of the spring, and may run continuously, if provided with aslipping clutch.

The embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described are given as anexample of carrying the invention into practice, but many other embodiments will present themselves to those skilled in the art and whichfall within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 4 Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a prepayment meter, a variable ratio mechanism for connecting thecommodity side of a prepayment mechanism to a meter rotor, said variableratio mechanism comprising a rotatable ratchet wheel, a rotatable membercarrying a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet Wheel, and a pair ofmeans for alternately engaging said pawl with said ratchet wheel anddisengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel during each revolution ofone of them. 7

2. In a' prepayment meter, a variable ratio mechanism for connecting thecommodity side of a prepayment mechanism to a meter rotor, said variableratio mechanism comprising a rotatable ratchet wheel, a rotatable membercarrying a pawl movably mounted upon said rotatable member and adaptedto engage or disengage said ratchet wheel according to the position ofthe pawl upon the rotatable member, a stationary member for deflectingsaid pawl to the position engaging said ratchet wheel at a given angularposition of the rotatable member, a second stationary member angularlydisplaced from the first for deflecting said pawl to the positiondisengaging said ratchet wheel at a second angular position of therotatable member, and means for adjusting the difierence between theangular positions of said stationary deflecting members.

3. A variable ratio transmission for connecting two relatively rotatablemembers comprising in combination with such members, a rotatable ratchetwheel connected to one of said members, a pawl carried by the other ofsaid members, said pawl being movably mounted upon the member carryingit, and being adapted to engage or disengage said ratchet wheelaccording to the position of the pawl upon the member carrying it, asecondary member for deflecting said pawl to a position engaging saidratchet wheel, a second stationary member for deflecting said pawl to aposition disengaging said ratchet wheel, said stationary deflectingmembers being angularly spaced, and means for adjusting the differencebetween theangular positions of said stationary deflecting members.

4. A variable ratio transmission for connecting a driving member and adriven member relatively rotatable with respect to each other comprisingin combination with such members, a ratchet wheel connected to one ofsaid members, said pawl being movably mounted upon the member carryingit, and being adapted to engage or disengage said ratchet wheelaccording to the position of the pawl upon the member carrying it, amember for deflecting said pawl to a position engaging said ratchetwheel at a predetermined angular position of the driving member, and asecond member for deflecting the pawl to the position disengaging saidratchet at a predetermined angular position of the pawl carrying member.

5. A variable ratio transmission for connecting a driving and a drivenmember relatively rotatable with respect to each other comprising incombination with such members, a rotatable ratchet wheel connected toone of said members, a pawl carried by the other of said members,movably mounted upon the member carrying it and adapted to engage ordisengage said ratchet wheel according to the position of the pawl uponthe member carrying it, a member for deflecting the pawl to a positionengaging said ratchet wheel at a predetermined angular position of thedriving member, a second stationary member for defleeting the pawl tothe position disengaging said ratchet at a predetermined angularposition of the pawl carrying member, and means for adjusting theangular pawl operating positions of the said deflecting members to varythe ratio of the transmission.

6. A variable ratio transmission for connecting a driving member and adriven member relatively rotatable with respect to each other comprisingin combination with such members, a ratchet wheel connected to one ofsaid members, a pawl, a pivot pin pivotally attaching said pawl to theother of said members in such a position as to make the pawl engageablewith said ratchet, said pawl having a pair of projections on either sideof said pivot pin, a stationary stop located in the path of one of theprojections of said pawl when the pawl is in the disengaged position,whereby said pawl is moved into engagement with said ratchet wheel at apredetermined angular position of said pawl-carrying member, and asecond stationary stop angularly spaced from said first stop and locatedin the path of the other projection of said pawl when the pawl is in itsengaged position, whereby said pawl is moved out of engagement with saidratchet wheel in another angular position of said pawl-carrying member.

'7. A variable ratio transmission for connecting a controlling memberand a driven member relatively rotatable with respect to each othercomprising in combination with such members, an intermediate rotatablemember, a ratchet mechanism interposed between said driven member andsaid intermediate member, an escapement device interposed between saidcontrolling member and said intermediate member, an auxiliary motorsupplying torque to said intermediate member, said ratchet mechanismcomprising a rotatable ratchet wheel, a rotatable arm and a pawl movablymounted upon the said rotatable arm and adapted to engage or disengagethe said ratchet wheel according to the position of the pawl upon thearm, a stationary member for defleeting the said pawl to the positionengaging said ratchet wheel at a predetermined angular position of therotatable arm, and a second stationary member for deflecting the pawl toa position disengaging said ratchet wheel at a second angular positionof the ratchet arm.

GEORGE WALL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. C Patent No. 2,106,582. January 25, 1958.

GEORGE WALL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1first colu mn, line L claim 1;, after "members," insert the words andcomma a pawl carried by the other of said members,; and that the said.Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform t 'the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of March, A.v D. 1958.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents;

